DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Is the Buddha's real message being obscured ?

**occurrini** · 01-17-2011, 12:03 AM

On the other hand, the very people also say Buddhism is not complete and that we need western psychology and psychotherapy because to follow Buddhism may cause us to develop all kinds of neuroses. They say Buddhism actually can cause us to become neurotic and we would then need to rush to a therapist.

Well, I think that the teachings of the historical Buddha are not for any type of person. To understand the Four Noble Truths it is needed a kind of special courage and a sense of renunciation hard to practice in a culture where consumption and self are closely related and one depends on the other. To break with this can generate serious existential conflicts. This is where the importance of a good teacher and a very supportive sangha are really needed and that the temper of the person fits well in the chose tradition.

Many of the people who say those things also say while Buddhism and psychotherapy are sort of complimentary, we need western psychology.

Maybe there is people that are needed of some sort of psychology support while his or her conflicts are soften a little so to let the teachings of the historical Buddha can come to an understanding. It is the same case as those people needed of some kind of medication so to treat mild depression because some imbalance in their brain. But this do not mean there is a kind of complementarity because sooner or later there will be a point where the direction of the western therapy and the teachings of the historical Buddha will go in opposite directions. The teachings of the historical Buddha demand a lifestyle that often quarrels with the guidelines of western therapies that are based on a mistaken notion of the Self.

Again, the teachings of the historical Buddha are not for everybody. Therapists and seekers for them can see in Buddhism therapies as former Christians tend to see christianism in some Buddhisms but this can not happen when one goes directly to the teachings of the historical Buddha and then happens that this teachings do not fit with everybody. To get into them needs time and a special disposition toward their practice.

01-17-2011, 12:03 AM	#8
occurrini Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 427 Senior Member	On the other hand, the very people also say Buddhism is not complete and that we need western psychology and psychotherapy because to follow Buddhism may cause us to develop all kinds of neuroses. They say Buddhism actually can cause us to become neurotic and we would then need to rush to a therapist. Well, I think that the teachings of the historical Buddha are not for any type of person. To understand the Four Noble Truths it is needed a kind of special courage and a sense of renunciation hard to practice in a culture where consumption and self are closely related and one depends on the other. To break with this can generate serious existential conflicts. This is where the importance of a good teacher and a very supportive sangha are really needed and that the temper of the person fits well in the chose tradition. Many of the people who say those things also say while Buddhism and psychotherapy are sort of complimentary, we need western psychology. Maybe there is people that are needed of some sort of psychology support while his or her conflicts are soften a little so to let the teachings of the historical Buddha can come to an understanding. It is the same case as those people needed of some kind of medication so to treat mild depression because some imbalance in their brain. But this do not mean there is a kind of complementarity because sooner or later there will be a point where the direction of the western therapy and the teachings of the historical Buddha will go in opposite directions. The teachings of the historical Buddha demand a lifestyle that often quarrels with the guidelines of western therapies that are based on a mistaken notion of the Self. Again, the teachings of the historical Buddha are not for everybody. Therapists and seekers for them can see in Buddhism therapies as former Christians tend to see christianism in some Buddhisms but this can not happen when one goes directly to the teachings of the historical Buddha and then happens that this teachings do not fit with everybody. To get into them needs time and a special disposition toward their practice.
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